What Is the Difference Between Wine & Spirits?
October 19, 2017

Clayton, Rabun

Wine and spirits are often at the center of any social gathering. But when you’re planning a party, it can be challenging to pick what you should have on hand. Knowing your crowd is helpful, but knowing your alcohol is too, which is why it’s good to know the difference between wine and spirits.

While wine and spirits belong to the same alcoholic family, they do have many differences, beginning with how they are made and what they are made from. Below, the local wine experts at Rabun ABC Package Store in Clayton, Georgia, share the difference between wine and spirits.

The Process

Wine has been made and drank for thousands of years, and the process remains mostly unchanged. You crush fruits (typically grapes), which releases the juice. This juice is fermented with yeast in barrels and then bottled. The three main types of wine include white, red, and rosé.

Ingredients & Alcohol Content

Spirits are made by distilling a fermented liquid mash made up of grains and other products, as well as heating it in a still. The machine is then cooled, so the alcohol can be collected. These spirits, also called liquors, hard liquors, or distilled beverages, including whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, and many other drink options. Wine can be distilled to make a higher-alcohol content spirit called brandy.

The other main difference is alcohol content. Wine typically has a lower alcohol content than a spirit. Wines usually range between 9% to 12% ABV while spirits are typically 40% ABV.

Wine and spirits differentiate themselves through the process they are made, their ingredients, and the significant difference in the alcohol content. Rabun ABC Package Store in Clayton, Georgia, has the area’s most extensive variety of wine and spirits, as well as craft beer. Call them at (706) 782-6937, or visit them online to see if they have what you’re looking for. Whether you choose wine or spirits, always drink responsibly.